The Role of LawLaw is a system or collection of "principles and regulations established in a community by some authority and applicable to its people". (Dictionary.com) In the past, people viewed law as an immutable factor that was part of the natural order of life. Today, most legislators view the law as a flexible tool that can be used to achieve a chosen purpose. “One of the strengths of this instrumentalist attitude is the desire to adapt the law to promote social good. A weakness, however, is the legal instability and uncertainty that these adaptations often produce.” (Mallor, 2007) Some of the most important functions and roles of laws are to resolve disputes peacefully, check government power, serve the economy and society, and protect the environment. The law plays a fundamental and important role in maintaining peace through civil law. and criminal laws. “Criminal law is the law under which the government prosecutes someone for committing a crime. It creates duties to the public as a whole.” (Mallor, 2007) One of the main functions of civil law is the “obligations that private individuals have to each other. It is the law applied when a private individual sues another." (Mallor, 2007) However, a government agency may be a party to a civil lawsuit if it sues or is sued by an individual or business. The Constitution is a great example of the restrictions or checks on government power. It promotes personal and business freedoms and prevents the government from taking certain actions that would limit those freedoms. The separation of powers principle gives Congress, the President, and the federal courts certain powers to keep the interests of people and businesses in mind. A system of checks and balances has been established to create a...... middle of paper......ers, Langvardt (2007). Introduction to Contracts, Business Law: The Ethical, Global, and E-Commerce Environment, (13th Edition). The McGraw-Hill Companies. Mallor, Barnes, Bowers, Langvardt (2007). Illegality, Business Law: The Ethical, Global, and E-Commerce Environment, (13th Edition). The McGraw-Hill Companies. Mallor, Barnes, Bowers, Langvardt (2007). Federal Trade Commission Act and Consumer Protection Laws, Business Law: Ethical, Global, and Electronic Commerce Environment, (13th edition). The McGraw-Hill Companies. Mallor, Barnes, Bowers, Langvardt (2007). Antitrust: The Sherman Act, Business Law: The Ethical, Global, and Electronic Commerce Environment, (13th edition). The McGraw-Hill Companies. Mallor, Barnes, Bowers, Langvardt (2007). Environmental Regulation, Business Law: The Ethical, Global, and E-Commerce Environment, (13th Edition). The McGraw-Hill Companies.